Solar storm detected in deep sea observatories

The powerful solar storm driving the aurora borealis over global skies since May are also triggering the movement of compasses deep in the ocean, as revealed in new scientific findings by Ocean Networks Canada. Geomagnetic disturbances can pose risks to power grids, satellite networks, and navigation systems as well as impact animals’ own navigational abilities.  Better understanding the geographic extent and intensity of these storms may be useful data for researchers.

Studying the origins of the universe, under the sea

Research has shown that the deep ocean is the perfect environment to study neutrinos, which are elusive subatomic particles produced by nuclear reactions in the sun, radioactive decay, and exploding stars. The Pacific Ocean Neutrino Experiment (P-ONE) is a proposed large-volume neutrino telescope in the Northeast Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Vancouver Island. Building upon the optical deep-sea data and communications network operated by Ocean Networks Canada, an international collaboration of researchers will target measuring high-energy neutrinos to shed light on the cosmos and the nature of black holes, supernova outbursts, and other cosmic particle accelerator event

Kate Moran is the President & CEO of Ocean Networks Canada (ONC), a position she has held since 2012. She first joined the University of Victoria in September 2011 as a professor in the Faculty of Science and as Director of NEPTUNE Canada. Her previous appointment was Professor and Associate Dean at the University of Rhode Island. From 2009 to 2011, Moran was seconded to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy where she served as an Assistant Director and focused on Arctic, polar, ocean, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and climate policy issues. She is active in public outreach on topics related to the Arctic, ocean observing, and climate change. Professor Moran co-led the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program’s Arctic Coring Expedition which successfully recovered the first paleoclimate record from the Arctic Ocean. She also led one of the first offshore expeditions to investigate the seafloor following the devastating 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami. Professor Moran is a registered professional engineer, an Officer of the Order of Canada, a fellow of the Canadian Society of Senior Engineers, and was selected as an American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow for the class of 2022.

Benoît Pirenne, Corporate Innovation and Technology Officer

Benoît Pirenne is Ocean Networks Canada’s Corporate Innovation and Technology Officer (CITO). He joined the University of Victoria in October 2004 to build the Data Management and Archiving System for the NEPTUNE Canada and VENUS observatories. In this outward-looking role with a focus on ONC’s current needs, Benoît focuses on bringing about the rapidly evolving technologies, both digital (AI/ML, underwater communications) and physical (nodes, smart cables, mobile systems, new sensor types) that will position ONC to remain as a global leader. His position will serve as sponsor for major initiatives (e.g., P-ONE, node replacement). In addition he oversees the Canadian Integrated Ocean Observing System — Pacific Regional Association, and the World Data System — International Technology Office. Previously, Benoît spent 18 years at the European Southern Observatory (ESO, Munich, Germany), a leading Organization for astronomical research. At ESO Benoît assumed a number of scientific and technical positions. As Head of the Operations Technical Support Department in this Organization, he was responsible for running the data management and archiving system supporting both ESO’s telescopes and the NASA/ESA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Benoît earned a BSc. from Liège, Belgium, and a MSc. from the University of Namur, Belgium.

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